UEFA 3 May

Joe Saumarez Smith`s expert picks for UEFA Cup games on 3rd May 2007.

Most punters will consider the Werder Bremen vs Espanyol match to be dead from a punting point of view as the Spaniards won the first leg 3-0. However the odds are so attractive on the visitors that I feel compelled to have a bet. Yes, they are missing a few players and may be happy to come away with a loss, but can you really believe that a team that won so convincingly against Werder last week can now be backed at 7.00 (6/1) to win the reverse fixture. Bremen have nothing to play for unless they can get a couple of goals early on and they may well just give up if there is no hope of getting back into the tie. The juicy odds on offer mean that a one point bet on Espanyol at 7.00 (6/1) on Betfair has to be placed.

Espanyol won 2-1

The Seville vs Osasuna game looks to me like it will be a tight affair with few goals. The first leg was a close 1-0 and Osasuna’s coach has suggested he will be playing with ten men behind the ball for much of this contest. It’s hard to see a lot of goals coming out of this and a one point bet on under 2.5 goals at 1.82 looks a fair wager.

Sevilla won 2-0